Learn the meaning of the terms
Classification of animals is done basing on their characteristics. If you are wondering how to learn animal classification, first step to do is learn the meaning of various terms such as scales, fins, fur, beak, thorax, abdomen, cold-blooded, warm-blooded, gills, hatch, carnivore, herbivore etc.
Focus on learning the various animal body parts
It is essential to know various body parts of animals. Knowing animal parts such as shell, scales, fins, backbone ease the process of animal classification. For example, fishes are covered with scales.
Use of questionnaires
Simple questionnaires that include a set of questions pertaining to particular level of classification are helpful in learning all the features pertaining to that class.
Use of books with colorful diagrams
What we see will have more impact on the brain than what we hear. Pictures showing various body parts of the animals and their eating habits help them to classify very easily and are also very easy to remember. For example, picture of a ferocious tiger feeding on a deer will remain in the brain. Next time, when you come across the term tiger you will very easily classify it as carnivore.
Use of charts showing the classification tree
Classification is done in various levels. A tree style of representing the classification helps to learn animal classification very easily. It would be more interesting to use charts with complete classification of one animal and showing the major deciding factor at each level of classification.
Use of online classification movies
Are you wondering how to study biology in a playful manner? Here is the best solution to learn animal classification. There are a great number of online movies that ease the process of animal classification.
Keen observation of nature
Cultivate the habit of observing nature events such as a hen hatching the eggs, a baby puppy drinking milk from the mother and so on. This will help to classify hen under birds whose characteristic feature is laying eggs.Once you are able to establish the relationship between the theoretical study of biology and nature, learning classification will be easy.
Story books pertaining to characteristics of animals
There are a great number of story books that reveal the features of particular group of animals. If you cannot find them in your library, try the internet.
Word Puzzles
A great number of word puzzles that give description of the class and ask you to name it are available online.
Description charts
An interesting idea for learning classification without any confusion between animals with related features is preparing a description chart that describes every particular group of animals. This will help to know the differences between each class and avoids confusions at the time of classification. For example, if you are new to classification, you will be confused whether to place a housefly in birds or insects. With the help of a description chart, you can very easily identify the difference in body organization of birds and insects and place housefly under insects.
